To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances a single parent who is receiving income support can retain their eligibility for that benefit if they participate in European social fund vocational training courses provided either by (a) voluntary organisations or local authorities or (b) training and enterprise councils/local enterprise companies; and if he will make a statement.

The European social fund provides financial support to training and employment initiatives, including employment training. Lone parents will normally remain eligible for income support while participating in a training course which is funded under the European social fund. However, any payments made in connection with the course will be taken into account in the normal way, depending on whether these are made under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973, or are otherwise made on a contractual or voluntary basis. In particular, any training premium, travelling expenses or living away from home allowance paid to employment training participants is disregarded. Those lone parents who are attending a non-government training course and whose youngest child is aged 16 or over will normally be required to be available for employment or to provide medical evidence that they are incapable of work.